ANKARA - These are some of the major headlines and their brief stories in Turkey's press on January 4, 2003. The Anadolu Agency does not verify these stories and does not vouch for their accuracy.

HURRIYET (LIBERAL)
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REPUBLIC OF A GLASS OF WATER
Those who swindled people's money, recommend their customers, ''we have lost your money. Please, drink a glass of cold water'' by making fun. Fadil Akgunduz who caused people to lose 400 million U.S. dollars, was elected an independent deputy in the general elections on November 3, 2002. Meanwhile, Mehmet Emin Karamehmet, the owner of Yapi Kredi Bankasi who transferred 2.8 quadrillion Turkish liras to some companies illegally, will be saved with money of people. 20 billion U.S. dollars part of the 30 billion U.S. dollars of loan which was lended to Turkey by the International Monetary Fund, will be spent to save these shameless swindlers.

''MILITARY OPERATION IS NOT INEVITABLE''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''a military operation against Iraq is not the only alternative we have. The world should give an opportunity for a peaceful solution. Such an operation is not inevitable. Peaceful and diplomatic ways have not been exhausted yet. On numerous occasions, Turkey stressed that military operation should be the last alternative.''

MILLIYET (LIBERAL)
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''DO NOT USE TSK AS A TOOL OF POLITICS''
Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc paid a visit to General Staff Chief General Hilmi Ozkok. During the meeting which lasted for about 45 minutes, General Ozkok and other high-ranking military officials expressed their uneasiness about the issues of ''bringing decisions of the Supreme Military Board (YAS) to the court and military lodgings''. Meanwhile, General Ozkok emphasized that the Turkish Armed Forces (TSK) could not be used as a tool of politics.

A SHIELD AGAINST IMMIGRATION
Turkey has been forming a security line in Dohuk and Zaho regions which were used as training camps by the terrorist organization PKK in the past. The security line will prevent flow of refugees to Turkey and infiltration of terrorists.

GOOD NEWS FOR PENSIONERS
Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said the pensions of retired persons from the Social Security Agency (SSK) would increase by 75 million Turkish liras (TL) and the pensions of senior pensioners from Social Security Agency of Self-Employed Workers (Bag-Kur) would increase by 100 million TL.

SABAH (LIBERAL)
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''I DO NOT WANT WAR''
U.S. Ambassador to Turkey Robert Pearson paid a visit to the Union of Turkish Chambers and Commodity Exchanges (TOBB). Speaking at the meeting, Pearson said, ''as a person, I do not want war. My wife and child do not want war either.'' He continued, ''if Turkey clarifies its decision, a war may not be necessary. The United States will continue to support Turkey with donations and loans. We will meet your losses.''

MOST PRECIOUS INHERITANCE OF FORMER GOVERNMENT
The economy policy which caused the former government led by Democratic Left Party (DSP) leader Bulent Ecevit to lose the general elections, became the chance of the government of the Justice and Development Party (AK Party). Inflation rates decreased considerably. The State Institute of Statistics (DIE) announced that wholesale prices increased by 30.8 percent and consumer prices rose by 29.7 percent in December of 2002 compared to prices in the previous month. Meanwhile, according to 12-month averages as of December 2002, annual inflation rate was 50.1 percent in wholesale prices and 45.0 percent in consumer prices.

CUMHURIYET (LEFT)
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''WAR IS LAST ALTERNATIVE''
President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said that Turkey's contribution to a possible military operation against Iraq could happen only on basis of ''international legitimacy'' by taking historical ties into consideration. Sezer said, ''a military intervention has not yet reached inevitable point. Peaceful and diplomatic methods have not been exhausted yet.'' Warning the U.S. administration, Sezer said that the U.N. Security Council's resolution no.1441 on Iraq did not ''automatically'' allow a military operation. ''A military operation can be considered only the last alternative. All sides should give opportunity to peace,'' the President said.

BLACKOUT ORDER TO PIPELINES
The Turkish Pipeline Transportation Corp (BOTAS) took measures due to a possible operation against Iraq. Blackout order was given in order to protect oil pipelines against a possible attack while BOTAS stations were warned. BOTAS officials said blackout measure was ''sufficient'' for the current period.

TURKEY'S RANKING IN SCIENCE ADVANCES
Turkey was ranked 22nd with 9303 publications in list of world scientific publications among 80 countries. The Scientific and Technical Research Council of Turkey (TUBITAK) Chairman said that Turkey which was ranked 25th in 2001 left behind all European Union (EU) countries except Denmark, Austria, Finland, Portugal, Ireland and Luxembourg and candidate country Poland.

RADIKAL (LEFT)
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REACTION FROM PRESIDENT SEZER TO ERDOGAN
Referring to the polemic between President Rauf Denktas of the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) and Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan, President Ahmet Necdet Sezer said, ''as a guarantor state, Turkey's historical rights are as important as expectations of Turkish Cypriot people.''

ERDOGAN: ''THEY WILL LOSE WHAT THEY HAVE''
Justice and Development Party (AK Party) leader Recep Tayyip Erdogan said, ''those who consider insolubility a solution, will lose what they have.'' Criticizing those who opposed to negotiate the plan presented to the sides in Cyprus by United Nations Secretary General Kofi Annan, Erdogan said, ''if you insist on defending unilateral rights, a solution cannot be reached. We should take into consideration both sides. Those who are in favor of a unilateral solution, will lose what they have.''

TURKIYE (RIGHT)
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RETIRED FEEL RELIEVED
The retired people who suffered economic problems in 2002 will be happy with the new increases in their pension. Prime Minister Abdullah Gul said that the minimum pension would be increased to 332 million Turkish liras (TL) while the old-age pension would rise 100 percent to 48 million TL.

TARGET REACHED
The consumer prices decreased to the minimum level in last 20 years while wholesale prices reduced to the minimum level in last 16 years. In December of 2002, the consumer prices index (CPI) rose by 1.6 percent and wholesale prices index (WPI) increased by 2.6 percent. Annual increase was 29.7 percent in CPI and 30.8 percent in WPI.

POLITICAL TRAFFIC IN CYPRUS
Prior to February 28, Parliament Speaker Bulent Arinc will visit the Turkish Republic of Northern Cyprus (TRNC) with a crowded accompanying delegation. The three-day visit of Arinc will start on January 13. He will be accompanied by a 40-member parliamentary delegation. Meanwhile, Greek Prime Minister Costas Simitis will visit the Greek Cypriot side on January 18.

ZAMAN (CONSERVATIVE)
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ARAB COUNTRIES TRYING TO PERSUADE SADDAM FOR ''EXILE''
While debates on a possible Iraq war continue, about a dozen Arab writers and lawyers are planning to appeal to the Arab world to put pressure on Iraqi President Saddam Hussein to step down to avert a war. The Reuters obtained a copy of the appeal which has not been published officially. According to the appeal those Arab writers and lawyers call upon public opinion in the Arab world to exercise pressure for the dismissal from power of Saddam Hussein and his close aides in order to stop a war that threatens catastrophe for the people of the region.